Jerome t



No. '623,910. Patented Apr. 25, |899.

.|. T. KELsx-J.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATUR. (Application led Mar. 5, 1898.)

@No Model.)

r lIl Nirnn STATES miren.,

JEROME T. KELSO, OF VINCENNES, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOI-IND. LA CROIX, OF SAME PLACE.

Ao ETYLENE-GAS GEN ERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,910, dated April25,' 1899.

Application filed March 5, 1898.

To @ZZ whom, t ntcty concern:

Be it known that I, JEROME T. KELso, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vincennes, in the county of Knox and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Apparatus;and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in gas-generatingapparatus, and has for its object to provide an apparatus of thischaracter of a simple, compact, and inexpensive nature which shall beespecially adapted for use in private dwellings and other places, theapparatus being substantially automatic in its operation, so as torequire little or no attention after having been charged, and beingprovided with means to automatically maintain a substantially constantpressure of the gas in the storage tank or chamber.

The invention contemplates certain novelfeatures of theconstruction,combinatiom and arrangement of the several part-s of theimproved apparatus whereby certain important advantages are attained andthe devices are made simpler, cheaper, and otherwise better adapted foruse, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in theclaims.

In order that my improvements may be the better understood, I have shownin the accompanying drawings an apparatus constructed according to myinvention, in which drawings- Figure l i's a sectional vie w takenvertically through an apparatus constructed according to my invention,and Fig. 2 is asectional detail View drawn to an enlarged scale andtaken transversely through the valve at the bottom of the water-tank.Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the upper part of thegenerating-chamber and the su pply-chamber above the same, showing themeans for dis- Serial No. 672,625. (No model.)

charging the carbid into the generating-chamber. Fig. 4 is an enlargedfragmentary detail view showing the latch for holding the hinged doorsof the carbid compartments closed.

In the drawings, l indicates the generatingchamber, constructed of sheetmetal or other suitable material and having a circular supply-chamber 2located above it and communicating with the generating-chamber at itsbottom, said supply-chamber being adapted for holding a supply ofcalcium carbid or other material and discharging the same to thegenerating-chamber.

The calcium carbid is contained in compartments formed within a drum 3of circular form, held to turn in the circular supplychamber 2 upon acentral shaft 4, extending across said supply-chamber, with one of itsends passed through the wall thereof and provided with a knob 5, bymeans of which the shaft and the drum 3 fixed thereon may be rotated inthe supply-chamber, as will be hereinafter explained. The ends of theshaft 4 are of course suitably packed to prevent leakage of gas to theoutside.

The shaft 4 is provided outside the chamber 2 with a radial pointer orindex 6, arranged to play over a dial 7 of circular form on the outsideof the chamber-wall, said dial being laid off in a number of divisionsto correspond with the number of compartments 8 contained in the drum 3and adapted to hold charges of calcium carbid. By this means as thehandle 5 is turned and the charges of calcium carbid contained in thechambers 8 of the drum are successively discharged into thegenerating-chamber the index by its play over the dial 7 Will serve toshow which of the compartments of the inclosed drum remain illed.

The compartments 8 in the drum 3 are formed between radial walls orpartitions 9, extending between the end walls of the drum, as clearlyshown in Figs. l and 3, and the outer edge of each of said radialpartitions is bent to form one element of a hinge-joint, the otherelement thereof being carried by a door l0, curved to correspond withthe periphery of the drum and adapted to close the outer end of thecompartment, its free edge being adapted, as shown in Fig. 4f, to seaton an oltset formed at the outer end of the next adjacent partition i).The portion of the door 10 which forms the hinge is bent inwardly, sothat the outer face of the door, which forms a part of the periphery ofthe drum 3 when closed, presents a smooth curved surface.

A latch is employed for holding cach door lO closed, said latchcomprising a spring-actuated lever or dog having one end adapted toengage an opening in the adjacent wall or partition 9, the lever 11being pivoted to the door 10, so that its opposite end will extendoutside the door and be at the periphery of the drum when the door isclosed, the door 10 being perforated to permit the passage of the lever,as shown clearly in Fig. L1. The inner end of the lever is beveled, sothat when the door 10 is closed by engagement with the wall ot chamber 2in the rotation of the drum 3 the door will be automatically secured.

As stated above, the supply-chamber 2 is open at its bottom forcolnmunication with the generatilig-chamber, and it will be seen that asthe drum is rotated its compartments S will pass successively and ininverted position over the open bottom of the supplychamber, so as to bein position for discharging the contained material into thegenerating-chamber.

To permit of opening the doors 10 of the compartments S of the drum, sothat the contents of the compartments may be discharged into thegenerating-ch amber, l employ a tripping finger or lug 14, carried on ashaft 1 5, which also extends through a packed opening in the wall ofthe generating-chamber and is provided at its outer end with a handle1G, by means ot` which the shaft may be turned to bring the finger orlug into the path of the projecting` ends 13 ot' the latch-levers 11,which hold the doors 10 closed, by which means the levers aredisengaged, thereby permitting the doors to drop by gravity, as shown inFig. 1. 'When the shaft 15 is turned in the reverse direction, theiinger or lug l-t is removed from the path of the latchlevers 11, sothat the drum 3 may be freely turned in the chamber 2 withoutdischarging the contents of its compartments. To hold the shaft inposition when the finger or lug 14 is in the path of the latch-levers, Iemploy a spring-arm 16 on the outer end ofthe shaft, which may beengaged between lugs 1Gb on the outer wall of the generating-chamber.

In the supply-chamber 2 and at one side of the opening in the bottomthereof which forms the outlet to the generating-chamber is arranged arounded lug or projection 2, sufficiently elevated from the inner wallof the supply-chamber to come into frictional contact with the peripheryof the drum 3, which periphery is formed, as above stated, of the doors10 ot'. the carbid-compartments. The lu g or projection 2 has bypreference engagement with the periphery of the drum 3 at one side ofthe path of the projecting ends 13 of the latch-levers 11, so as not tobe engaged thereby in the rotation of the drum 3, and by thisarrangement it will be seen that when'thc drum is rotated each door 10which has been opened by the engagement of the finger llt with itslatch, as above described) will by contact with the lug or projection 2in the supply-chamber act to swing the door l0 pivotally into closedposition, the latch-lever l1 acting, as above described, toautomatically lock the door when closed and to hold it in closedposition during the further rotary movement of the drum. The said lug orprojection 2 also acts, by reason of its frietional engagement with theperiphery of the drum 3, to hold the same against rotative movement inthe supply-chamber 2 when partially emptied of the contents ot itscompartments 8, so that the tendency of the drum to turn on its axiswhen partly emptied, owing to the lightening of one of its sides, isprevented. At the same time this tendency of the drum 3 to turn axiallywhen partly emptied of its contents materially aids in the operation ofthe device, rendering the drum more easy of turning, especially as thecompartments S become more nearly exhausted.

To permit the compartments S of the drinn 3 to be conveniently filledwith calcium carbid atter they have been emptied, I provide in the topof the supply-chamber 2 a manhole, which will be kept closed when thedevice is working by means of a tight-fitting cover 17 of any desiredkind.

1S indicates a partition formed by preference of a series of sections ofclose-lneshed wire netting or screen extending across the lower part ofthe generating-chamber l and on which the material discharged from thecompartments S is adapted to fall, and 19 indicates a rose orspray-nozzle located above said screen partition 1S and adapted tosupply water or other liquid in the form of spray to the materialresting on the partition. There acetylene gas is to be generated, thecalcium carbid when decomposed will be washed by the water through thescreen partition and will collect in the lower part of the chamber 1,whence it may be removed by way of a suitable manhole.

Water is supplied to the nozzle 19 by way of a pipe 20, having a cock 21and a checkvalve 21Art and leading from a water-tank 22. The pipe 20opens into the tank at the bottom thereof and is controlled by avalve23, mounted to slide on the bottom of the tank, being engaged at itsedges in grooves 24 in the sides of the tank, as seen in Fig. 2. Thevalve 23 is provided on its upper face with spaced and perforated lugs25, between which is-held the slotted lower end of a lever 2G, pivotedat its central part on a rod 27, extending across the tank 22 and havingat its upper end a slotted connection with a link 2S, which passesthrough openings in the wall of the water-tank and also in the wall ofthe gas holding or stor- IOO IIO

age chamber 29, within which said link is connected to an automaticregulating device actuated bythe variations in gas-pressu re in thechamber 29 and adapted to control the passage of water through pipe 20,and thereby to control the generation of gas in the generating-chamber1.

The regulating device consists in a collapsible box or casing havingfiat inflexible walls 30 of sheet material connected by flexible sideWalls 3l, which may be of leather, sheet-rubber, or thelike, and whichserve to hold in place a central partition 32, between which and thewalls 30 of the box or casing are arranged spiral springs 33, adapted tohold the Walls uorinally separated, as shown in Fig. 1.

lVlien the gas-pressure in the chamber 29 rises, the walls 3U will beforced nearer each other, thereby compressing the springs rllie link 28is connected tothe central partition 32, and it will be seen that whenthe box or casing is compressed by the rise of gaspressure iii chamber29 the movement of the partition 32 will be transmitted to lever 26 andwill serve to actuate the valve 23 and stop the flow of water throughpipe 20. Vlien the gas-pressure falls7 the springs 33 will return thepartition 32 to its first position and the pipe 2O will be again opened.The storage-chamber has an outlet-pipe 44 for the gas to be consumed andis preferably provided with a pressure-gage 45 and a manhole closed by acover 4G.

The gas generated in chamber 1 escapes by way of a pipe 34 at the upperpart thereof, which pipe is con nected with a cooling-coil 35, arrangedin a coiideiising-chamber 3G, having in its top an opening 37 to permitthe supply of water for immersing and cooling the coil, and having atits lower part a valved outlet 3S for the discharge of such water fromtime to time. The lower end 39 of coil 35 passes through the wall of apurifying-chamber 40, into the lower part of which it opens, and saidchamber 40 is provided at its top with an inlet 4l, so that it may becharged with a suitable purifying agent to take up the im purities fromthe gas. Tlie heavier and condensed impurities will fall to the bottomand may be withdrawn at a valved outlet 42. The gas rises to the top ofthe purifying-cliamber 40 and passes by way of a pipe 43 to thestorageclianibcr 29.

In operation the charge ot' calcium carbid is dropped from one of thecompartments S of the drum 3 upon the screen partition 18 in thegenerating-chamber, after which the cock 21 is operated to permit waterto flow through pipe 2O to decompose the charge, the gas passing by Wayof pipe 34 to and through the condensing and purifying chambers and bypipe 43 to chamber 29. As the pressure in chamber 29 rises theregulating device willI act to automatically cut off the supply ofwater, and thus stop the generation of gas. Valve 21 will serve toprevent any gas from being forced into the water tank or chamber.

The employment of the latches 1l for holding the coinpartinent-doorsnormally closed not only holds the carbid in the compartments, but alsoeifectually guards against decomposition of the carbid held in saidcompartments by water splashing from the generating-chamber below. Bythe use of the adjustable shaft 15, carrying the trippingfinger 14, itis also obviousthat said finger may be adjusted out of operativeposition when not required for use-as, for example, when the drum 3 isbeing charged.

From the above description it will be seen that the apparatusconstructed according to my invention is of an extremely simple andinexpensive nature and is especially well adapted for the purposes forwhich it is designed, and it will also be obvious that the apparatus iscapable of some modification Without material departure from theprinciples and spirit of the invention, and for this reason I do notwish to be understood aslimit ing myself to the precise form andarrangement of the parts herein set forth; nor do I wish to beunderstood as limiting myself to the employment of my improved apparatusas a generator for acetylene gas exclusively, since it is obvious it maybe used for generating other gases as Well.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is h 1. A gas-generating apparatus, comprisingagenerating-chamber, asupply-chamber over the `genei'ating-chamber andcommunicating therewith at its lower part, a horizontal shaft, a drumarranged to turn in the supply-chamber on said shaft and provided withcompartments adapted to successively discharge their contents, as thedrum is tiirned,into the generating-chamber, hinged doors for saidconipartmeiits, latches for holding said doors closed, and means torelease said latches to permit said doors to be opened to discharge thecontents ofthe compartments, said means consistingin a shaft mounted toturn and provided with a finger adapted to be moved by the turning ofthe shaft into position to engage said latches, substantially as setforth.

2. A gas-generating apparatus comprising a generating-chaniber,asiipply-chamber over the generating-chamber, means located over thegenerating-chamber for supplying successive charges of material from thesupplychamber to the generating-chamber, and a screen partition arrangedacross the generating-cliamber above the water-level therein and adaptedto receive the material discharged froin the supply-chamber,substantially as set forth.

3. A gas-generating apparatus comprising ageneratin g-cliainber, asupply-chamber over the generating-chainbei3 means located over thegenerating-chamber for supplying successive charges of material from thesupplychamber to the generating-chamber, a screen partition arrangedacross the generating- IfO lio

chamber above the water-level therein and adapted to receive thematerial discharged from the supply-chamber, and a nozzle having aliquid-supply pipe and arranged over the screen partition, whereby theliquid discharged from said nozzle is adapted to decompose the materialresting on the screen partition and also to wash the decomposed materialthrough said partition, substantially as set forth.

4. A gas-generating apparatus comprising a generating-chamber, a pipeconnected to said chamber and leading to a liquid-supply, a gas-storagechamber connected to the generating-chamber, a box or casing located inthe storage-chamber having in liexible end walls and iiexible sidewalls, springs held in said box and arranged to hold the same normallydistended, a valve controlling the iiow of liquid through said pipe, andmechanism connecting said box or casing in the storagechamber with saidvalve whereby the valve is controlled by variations in the gas-pressurewithin the storage-chamber, substantially as set forth.

5. A gas-generating apparatus comprising a generating-chamber, a pipeconnected to said chamber and leading to a liquid-supply, a gas-storagechamber connected to the generating-chamber, a collapsible box or easinglocated in the storage-chamber and adapted to collapse upon the rise ofgas-pressu re therein, means to hold said box or casing normallydistended, a valve controlling said pipe, and

'mechanism connecting the box or casing and said valve, whereby thevalve is controlled by variations in the gas-pressure in thestorage-chamber, substantially as set forth.

G. A gas-generating apparatus comprising a generating-chalnber,asupply-chain ber over the generating-chamber and communicating therewithat its lower part, a drum arranged to turn in the supply-chamber andprovided with compartments open at the periphery of the drum and adaptedto successively discharge their contents, as the drum is turned, intothe generati11g-chamber, hinged doors for said compartments, means tohold said doors closed, and mechanism adapted to be thrown out of andinto operative position for releasing said door-holding means to permitthe doors to be opened to discharge the contents of the compartmentsinto the generating-chamber, substantially as set forth.

7. A gas-generating apparatus comprising a generating-chamber,asupply-chamber over the generating-chamber and communicating therewithat its lower part, a drinn arranged to turn in the supply-chamber andprovided with compartments adapted to successively discharge theircontents, as the drum is turned, into the generating-chamber, hingeddoors for said compartments, latches for holding said doors closed andmeans, adapted to be thrown out of and into operative position, torelease said latches to permit said doors to be opened to discharge thecontents of the compartments, substantially as set forth.

8. A gas-generating apparatus comprisingagenerating-ehamber,asupply-chamberover the generating-chamber andcommunicating therewith at its lower part, a drum arranged to turn inthe supply-chamber and provided with compartments adapted tosuccessively discharge their contents, as the drum is tnrned,into thegen@rating-chamber, hinged doors for said compartments, lneans to holdthe doors closed, mechanism adapted to be thrown out of and intooperative position to release the door-holding means to permit the doorsto be opened to discharge the contents of the compartments into thegeneratingchamber, and means to close said doors when opened,substantially as set forth.

9. A gas-generating apparatus comprising a generating-chamber,asupply-chamber over the generating-chamber and comm nnicatingtherewith,a drum arranged to turn in the sup ply-chamber and providedwith partitions forming between them compartments open at the peripheryof the drum to discharge their contents, as the drum is turned into thegenerating-chamber, each of said partitions being formed with oneelement of a hinge and with a shoulder adapted to seat the edge of adoor hinged to the next adjacent partition, doors, each having at oneend ahinge element hinged to the hinge element of one of the partitions,and having its opposite edge adapted to be seated on the shoulder of thenext adjacent partition and provided with a latch for holding the doorin closed position, and mechanism for releasing said latches to permitthe doors to be opened to discharge the contents of the compartmentsinto the generatingchamber, substan tially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence ot two witnesses.

JEROME T. KELSO.

Vitnessesz JOHN D. LA CROIX, Mum REDMoN.

